Lackawaxen River
Encyclopedia
The Lackawaxen River is a 31.3 miles (50.4 km) tributary
of the Delaware River
in northeastern Pennsylvania
in the United States
. The river flows through a largely rural area in the northern Pocono Mountains
, draining an area of approximately 598 square miles (1,548.8 km²).
Its source is in the borough of Prompton
in western Wayne County
, at the confluence of the West Branch and Van Auken Creek
. It flows past Honesdale
and Hawley
, where it is joined from the southwest by Wallenpaupack Creek
. It continues east and joins the Delaware at Lackawaxen. East of Honesdale, it was deepened as part of the Delaware and Hudson Canal
project.
The river is a popular destination for canoe
ing and recreational fly fishing
for trout
. It was reportedly where the American author Zane Grey
first learned to fly fish
.
and flows south-southeast. After a confluence with Johnson Creek, it flows southeast through Prompton Lake reservoir, to its confluence with Van Auken Creek
to form the main stem.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
in northeastern Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The river flows through a largely rural area in the northern Pocono Mountains
The Poconos
The Pocono Mountains is a region located in northeastern Pennsylvania, United States. The Poconos, located chiefly in Monroe and Pike counties , are an upland of the larger Allegheny Plateau...
, draining an area of approximately 598 square miles (1,548.8 km²).
Its source is in the borough of Prompton
Prompton, Pennsylvania
Prompton is a borough in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 250 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Prompton is located at ....
in western Wayne County
Wayne County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,722 people, 18,350 households, and 12,936 families residing in the county. The population density was 65 people per square mile . There were 30,593 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile...
, at the confluence of the West Branch and Van Auken Creek
Van Auken Creek
Van Auken Creek is a tributary of the Lackawaxen River in Wayne County, Pennsylvania in the United States.Van Auken Creek and West Branch Lackawaxen River join near Prompton to form the main stem of the Lackawaxen River.-Variant names:...
. It flows past Honesdale
Honesdale, Pennsylvania
Honesdale is a borough in and the county seat of Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located northeast of Scranton. The population was 4,874 at the 2000 census....
and Hawley
Hawley, Pennsylvania
Hawley is a borough in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,211 at the 2010 census.- History :The borough was named for Irad Hawley, first president of the Pennsylvania Coal Company. Early industry centered around the transportation and support of nearby coal mining...
, where it is joined from the southwest by Wallenpaupack Creek
Wallenpaupack Creek
Wallenpaupack Creek is a tributary of the Lackawaxen River in the Poconos of eastern Pennsylvania in the United States.Wallenpaupack is from the Lenape language and has been interpreted as "deep, dead water" or "the stream of swift and slow water."...
. It continues east and joins the Delaware at Lackawaxen. East of Honesdale, it was deepened as part of the Delaware and Hudson Canal
Delaware and Hudson Canal
The Delaware and Hudson Canal was the first venture of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, which later developed the Delaware and Hudson Railway...
project.
The river is a popular destination for canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
ing and recreational fly fishing
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
for trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
. It was reportedly where the American author Zane Grey
Zane Grey
Zane Grey was an American author best known for his popular adventure novels and stories that presented an idealized image of the Old West. Riders of the Purple Sage was his bestselling book. In addition to the success of his printed works, they later had second lives and continuing influence...
first learned to fly fish
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
.
West Branch Lackawaxen River
The West Branch, approximately 21.5 miles (34.6 km) long, rises in northern Wayne County near OrsonOrson, Pennsylvania
Orson is an unincorporated community in Preston Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States.Orson is centered around the intersection of routes 370 and 670, also known as Oxbow Road, with both the Orson Country Inn and the Orson Corners Veterinary Clinic located within sight distance of the...
and flows south-southeast. After a confluence with Johnson Creek, it flows southeast through Prompton Lake reservoir, to its confluence with Van Auken Creek
Van Auken Creek
Van Auken Creek is a tributary of the Lackawaxen River in Wayne County, Pennsylvania in the United States.Van Auken Creek and West Branch Lackawaxen River join near Prompton to form the main stem of the Lackawaxen River.-Variant names:...
to form the main stem.